From: ciconia@... Date: 2020-07-21T06:49:20+00:00 Subject: [ruby-core:99247] [Ruby master Feature#16786] Light-weight scheduler for improved concurrency. Issue #16786 has been updated by ciconia (Sharon Rosner). I'd been working a lot with fibers recently, and I would like to share my thoughts on this issue. Disclaimer: I'm currently working on a concurrency solution for Ruby using Fibers, but which takes a very different approach: https://github.com/digital-fabric/polyphony/ Here are my objections: 1. This proposal introduces an interface (the Scheduler API) that will probably be implemented only for one or two different gems (ioquatix mentions nio4r and EventMachine). It's not like there's going to be a lot of different schedulers to choose from, so why introduce another public interface? In the case of EventMachine, there has already been an attempt ([em-synchrony](https://github.com/igrigorik/em-synchrony)) at converting it from callbacks to fibers, which didn't gather much steam and is currently inactive. I don't think this solution will be relevant to existing code based on EventMachine. In the case of nio4r, which as far as I know is the only currently existing implementation of a Scheduler, there is already a thriving ecosystem around ioquatix's excellent Async, Falcon et al. Frankly, this proposal seems to me a bit like a tailor-made solution for integrating nio4r into Ruby. 2. In order to cover all blocking behavior in Ruby, you'll need to touch a lot of core C code. This proposal introduces an additional layer of complexity on top of existing code that has a long history and is already complex. Based on my own experience debugging problems using stdlib APIs and other gems with C extensions in a multi-fiber context, I can say that this proposal has the potential to introduce new bugs and undefined behaviors, which will then have to be resolved, so more work for core Ruby devs. This is especially true if the intention is for all this to be "automatic", such that developers won't even be aware it's there. The end user experience might be less than optimal. 3. The proposed interface assumes a reactor-based design. Note that reactor != scheduler. This solution would not help us integrate newer technologies like io_uring. I think this should also be taken into account, since any concurrency solution should also be future-proof. 4. This proposal introduces two kinds of fibers with differing behaviors, which is analogous to the problem introduced by async/await mechanisms (["What color is your function?"](http://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/2015/02/01/what-color-is-your-function/)). This creates ambiguity where previously there was none. 5. The proposed `Fiber do` notation is *very* problematic in my opinion. First of all, it's a global method call but it breaks the Ruby convention of methods being all lower case. Secondly, it's too similar to `Fiber.new`, people reading a piece of code might mistake one for the other. Thirdly, it does not communicate what it does. Since method names are normally verbs, what does it mean "to Fiber" and why is it capitalized? 6. The performance implications, if there are any, have not been shared here. On the impact on non-concurrent code, you state: "We believe it's acceptable," which implies there is some slowdown. Any performance improvement or degradation should be shared. In conclusion, in my opinion this should not be made part of Ruby (yes, I know the pull request has already been merged into master). One can debate the technical merits and faults of this proposal, but in the end of the day it feels to me like a tailor-made solution that will most probably be implemented by a single library, namely nio4r. This proposal might also have side effects that we can't see at the present moment. In my opinion, such a fiber scheduling solution should not be baked into core Ruby. At the very least, if the Ruby gods decide to favor this endeavor, it might be wiser to use a different class than Fiber (perhaps a subclass of Fiber), and change the `Fiber` method name such that the API be less misleading. Ruby developers are already a bit "spooked" by fibers, there's no need to add to the confusion. ---------------------------------------- Feature #16786: Light-weight scheduler for improved concurrency. https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/16786#change-86631 * Author: ioquatix (Samuel Williams) * Status: Open * Priority: Normal ---------------------------------------- # Abstract We propose to introduce a light weight fiber scheduler, to improve the concurrency of Ruby code with minimal changes. # Background We have been discussing and considering options to improve Ruby scalability for several years. More context can be provided by the following discussions: - https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/14736 - https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/13618 The final Ruby Concurrency report provides some background on the various issues considered in the latest iteration: https://www.codeotaku.com/journal/2020-04/ruby-concurrency-final-report/index # Proposal We propose to introduce the following concepts: - A `Scheduler` interface which provides hooks for user-supplied event loops. - Non-blocking `Fiber` which can invoke the scheduler when it would otherwise block. ## Scheduler The per-thread fiber scheduler interface is used to intercept blocking operations. A typical implementation would be a wrapper for a gem like EventMachine or Async. This design provides separation of concerns between the event loop implementation and application code. It also allows for layered schedulers which can perform instrumentation, enforce constraints (e.g. during testing) and provide additional logging. You can see a [sample implementation here](https://github.com/socketry/async/pull/56). ```ruby class Scheduler # Wait for the given file descriptor to become readable. def wait_readable(io) end # Wait for the given file descriptor to become writable. def wait_writable(io) end # Wait for the given file descriptor to match the specified events within # the specified timeout. # @param event [Integer] a bit mask of +IO::WAIT_READABLE+, # `IO::WAIT_WRITABLE` and `IO::WAIT_PRIORITY`. # @param timeout [#to_f] the amount of time to wait for the event. def wait_any(io, events, timeout) end # Sleep the current task for the specified duration, or forever if not # specified. # @param duration [#to_f] the amount of time to sleep. def wait_sleep(duration = nil) end # The Ruby virtual machine is going to enter a system level blocking # operation. def enter_blocking_region end # The Ruby virtual machine has completed the system level blocking # operation. def exit_blocking_region end # Intercept the creation of a non-blocking fiber. def fiber(&block) Fiber.new(blocking: false, &block) end # Invoked when the thread exits. def run # Implement event loop here. end end ``` A thread has a non-blocking fiber scheduler. All blocking operations on non-blocking fibers are hooked by the scheduler and the scheduler can switch to another fiber. If any mutex is acquired by a fiber, then a scheduler is not called; the same behaviour as blocking Fiber. Schedulers can be written in Ruby. This is a desirable property as it allows them to be used in different implementations of Ruby easily. To enable non-blocking fiber switching on blocking operations: - Specify a scheduler: `Thread.current.scheduler = Scheduler.new`. - Create several non-blocking fibers: `Fiber.new(blocking:false) {...}`. - As the main fiber exits, `Thread.current.scheduler.run` is invoked which begins executing the event loop until all fibers are finished. ### Time/Duration Arguments Tony Arcieri suggested against using floating point values for time/durations, because they can accumulate rounding errors and other issues. He has a wealth of experience in this area so his advice should be considered carefully. However, I have yet to see these issues happen in an event loop. That being said, round tripping between `struct timeval` and `double`/`VALUE` seems a bit inefficient. One option is to have an opaque argument that responds to `to_f` as well as potentially `seconds` and `microseconds` or some other such interface (could be opaque argument supported by `IO.select` for example). ### File Descriptor Arguments Because of the public C interface we may need to support a specific set of wrappers for CRuby. ```c int rb_io_wait_readable(int); int rb_io_wait_writable(int); int rb_wait_for_single_fd(int fd, int events, struct timeval *tv); ``` One option is to introduce hooks specific to CRuby: ```ruby class Scheduler # Wrapper for rb_io_wait_readable(int) C function. def wait_readable_fd(fd) wait_readable(::IO.from_fd(fd, autoclose: false)) end # Wrapper for rb_io_wait_readable(int) C function. def wait_writable_fd(fd) wait_writable(::IO.from_fd(fd, autoclose: false)) end # Wrapper for rb_wait_for_single_fd(int) C function. def wait_for_single_fd(fd, events, duration) wait_any(::IO.from_fd(fd, autoclose: false), events, duration) end end ``` Alternatively, in CRuby, it may be possible to map from `fd` -> `IO` instance. Most C schedulers only care about file descriptor, so such a mapping will introduce a small performance penalty. In addition, most C level schedulers will not care about `IO` instance. ## Non-blocking Fiber We propose to introduce per-fiber flag `blocking: true/false`. A fiber created by `Fiber.new(blocking: true)` (the default `Fiber.new`) becomes a "blocking Fiber" and has no changes from current Fiber implementation. This includes the root fiber. A fiber created by `Fiber.new(blocking: false)` becomes a "non-blocking Fiber" and it will be scheduled by the per-thread scheduler when the blocking operations (blocking I/O, sleep, and so on) occurs. ```ruby Fiber.new(blocking: false) do puts Fiber.current.blocking? # false # May invoke `Thread.scheduler&.wait_readable`. io.read(...) # May invoke `Thread.scheduler&.wait_writable`. io.write(...) # Will invoke `Thread.scheduler&.wait_sleep`. sleep(n) end.resume ``` Non-blocking fibers also supports `Fiber#resume`, `Fiber#transfer` and `Fiber.yield` which are necessary to create a scheduler. ### Fiber Method We also introduce a new method which simplifes the creation of these non-blocking fibers: ```ruby Fiber do puts Fiber.current.blocking? # false end ``` This method invokes `Scheduler#fiber(...)`. The purpose of this method is to allow the scheduler to internally decide the policy for when to start the fiber, and whether to use symmetric or asymmetric fibers. If no scheduler is specified, it is a error: `RuntimeError.new("No scheduler is available")`. In the future we may expand this to support some kind of default scheduler. ## Non-blocking I/O `IO#nonblock` is an existing interface to control whether I/O uses blocking or non-blocking system calls. We can take advantage of this: - `IO#nonblock = false` prevents that particular IO from utilising the scheduler. This should be the default for `stderr`. - `IO#nonblock = true` enables that particular IO to utilise the scheduler. We should enable this where possible. As proposed by Eric Wong, we believe that making I/O non-blocking by default is the right approach. We have expanded his work in the current implementation. By doing this, when the user writes `Fiber do ... end` they are guaranteed the best possible concurrency possible, without any further changes to code. As an example, one of the tests shows `Net::HTTP.get` being used in this way with no further modifications required. To support this further, consider the counterpoint, that `Net::HTTP.get(..., blocking: false)` is required for concurrent requests. Library code may not expose the relevant options, sevearly limiting the user's ability to improve concurrency, even if that is what they desire. # Implementation We have an evolving implementation here: https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/3032 which we will continue to update as the proposal changes. # Evaluation This proposal provides the hooks for scheduling fibers. With regards to performance, there are several things to consider: - The impact of the scheduler design on non-concurrent workloads. We believe it's acceptable. - The impact of the scheduler design on concurrent workloads. Our results are promising. - The impact of different event loops on throughput and latency. We have independent tests which confirm the scalability of the approach. We can control for the first two in this proposal, and depending on the design we may help or hinder the wrapper implementation. In the tests, we provide a basic implementation using `IO.select`. As this proposal is finalised, we will introduce some basic benchmarks using this approach. # Discussion The following points are good ones for discussion: - Handling of file descriptors vs `IO` instances. - Handling of time/duration arguments. - General design and naming conventions. - Potential platform issues (e.g. CRuby vs JRuby vs TruffleRuby, etc). The following is planned to be described by @eregon in another design document: - Semantics of non-blocking mutex (e.g. `Mutex.new(blocking: false)` or some other approach). In the future we hope to extend the scheduler to handle other blocking operations, including name resolution, file I/O (by `io_uring`) and others. We may need to introduce additional hooks. If these hooks are not defined on the scheduler implementation, we will revert back to the blocking implementation where possible. -- https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/ Unsubscribe: